Fake bill found at restaurant leads to charges for 2 men

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Two men are accused of trying to pass a fake $100 bill at a Lawrence County restaurant. Ralph Riddle Jr., 24, of West Myrtle Avenue, Youngstown, and James Hudson, 29, of Fruit Street, Sharon, were in the Lawrence County Jail this morning after failing to post $25,000 bond each. They were arraigned Sunday morning before District Justice J.V. Lamb. Hudson faces charges of criminal conspiracy to commit forgery, two counts of forgery, theft by deception, possessing instruments of crime and possession of a controlled substance. Riddle is accused of criminal conspiracy to commit forgery, receiving stolen property, carrying a firearm without a license, prohibitive offensive weapons and possession of instruments of crime. Police said they were called by employees at Shad Hanna's Restaurant on Butler Avenue about a fake $100 bill that the men tried to use at the bar. Riddle and Hudson were taken into police custody, and police later discovered both were wearing bullet-proof vests. At the police station, authorities said, they found another fake $100 bill and suspected crack cocaine in Hudson's clothing. They also found car keys and went back to the restaurant and matched them to a Pontiac Bonneville. Police said they later learned the car had been stolen from Youngstown. Inside the vehicle they found an assault rifle, a revolver and a box of ammunition. Police said an agent from the U.S. Treasury Department was called to investigate and noted that the fake bills were similar to ones found in Youngstown and Aliquippa, Pa.